Acetylene bicycle-lamp



No. 608,483. l Patented Aug. 2,` |898.

F. w. HEDGELAND.

ACETYLENE BICYCLE LAIIP.

(Application mea on. 9, 1897,)

(il-o Model.)

/ms'rra R NEYS.

TH: Nunms PETEns co., Puooumo.. wAsHmGToN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEc.

FREDERICK W. IIEDGELAND, OFCIIICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ACETYLENE BICYCLE-LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of lLetters Patent No. 608,403, dated August 2, 1898.

Application filed October 9, 1897.

To alZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. HEDGE-I LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Acetylene Bicycle-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bicycle-lamps, and more particularly to acetylene-gas bicyclelamps. y Y

The object of my invention is to provide an acetylene vbicycle-lamp y,of a simple, cheap, light, and durable construction which will be efficient, economicaLjand safe in operation and which will burn with a uniform and steady ilame notwithstanding the continually-varying vibrations and jars to which it is constantly subjected in use. Y

My invention consists in the means I employ to accomplish this object-that is to say, it consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and inthe novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspeciiication, Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a bicycle-lamp embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a verticalcrosssection on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. Sis an enlarged detail `sectional view, and Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe cartridge-shell.

In the drawings, A represents the frame or bracket by which the lamp is attached to the bicycle; A', the hood; A2, the reiiector; A3, the lens, and A4 the Haring lens-holder tube or shell, the parts being of any ordinary or suitable construction.

B is a vessel or shell constituting the body of the lamp and preferably of cylindrical form. The lamp-body or vessel B is preferably provided with a raised or dome-shapedv top B', terminating in a cylindrical neck B2, and the lower end of the body B is preferably given a dished form B3 to give the lamp a more symmetrical appearance. The body B is divided by a longitudinal partition b near its lower end into a water-chamber b and an equalizing-chamber b2 below the water-chamber. Y

C is the gas-burner, and C the gas-supply tube leading from the gas-chamber or shell rior screw-threads on the iiange CZ.

Serial No. 654,651. (No model.)

bossd which communicates bya pipe E with the gas-burner tube C and by a pipe E with the equalizing-chamber b2. The tube E is provided with a valve E2 for opening and closing the same. The horizontal gas holder or chamber D is provided at its outer end with a flange d4, by which it is soldered, brazed, or otherwise securely connected to the body or vessel B of the lamp by a water-tight joint. At its outer end the horizontal gas-holder shell D is provided with a removable cap D2, having a iiange or shoulder d5 to compress the packing d and furnished with screw- Ythreads CZT to unite it with the main portion of the shell D.

The cartridge-holder F is a cylindrical shell open at both ends and provided at its inner end with screw-threads f to engage the inte- The cartridge-holderF is somewhat smaller in diameter than the gas-chamber shell or holder D,

in which it fits, thus leaving a horizontallyextending annular space F for the gas between itself and the shell D. The cartridgeholder shell F is further provid ed on its outer periphery, extending from about its middle to its outer end, with a number of longitudinal grooves f and openings f2 atitsextrelne outer end to facilitate the passage of the gas around the end of the shell F and between it and the shell D and its cap D2. A l

G is the cartridge-shell, which m ayl be preferably made of waterprooi` paper or paperboard and in which the calcium carbid X, from which the gas is generated, is contained. The cartridge-shell G fits closely inside the cartridge-holder F, and it is provided with an externally-projecting,annular flange g, which vis engaged by the inner end ofthe car- IOO tridge-holder shell F, so that when the said shell F is screwed home in. the shell D the inner head G of the cartridge-shell will be firmly clamped against the inner head D of the gas-holder shell or chamber, and thus prevent the water which enters through the hollow hub or boss d from running d own between the two. The innerhead G of thecartridge-shell G is provided with an opening f/, registering with the opening or passage of the hollow hub or boss d3, so that the water may enter the cartridge and come in contact with the carbid X therein. rlhe cartridgeshell G is preferably made in two parts, having au inner telescopic section G3, and its outer head or end G is furnished with an opening 'ffl to permit the escape er passage of the gas from the carbid. Disks of linen or other fabric (1" 't" cover the openings f/' g2 and prevent the carbid from falling into or through .said openings.

,ll is a follower disk or piston fitting inside the cartridge-holder shell l? and provided with a spring-band 71 on its periphery to hold it frictionally in place while permitting it to slide in the shell l?, as the bulk of the carbid expands after being acted upon by the water. This disk or piston ll is provided with a number of openings 71.' for the passage of the gas.

The water-chamber Z1' communicates with the edualizing-ehamber ZIJ below by means of a pipe K, the lower end of which extends to near thebottom of the equaliziiig-chamber b2.

The water-supply pipe E terminates at its lower end near the top of the equalizingchamber Ui, so that the water cannot feed any to the carbid except when the pressure of the gas through the equalizing-pipe E andthe connecting-pipe E permits the water to lill the equalizilig-chamber.

M is a vent-pipe leading from the air-space above the water-line lf out through the bottom of the body or vessel i3, so that if any gas should accumulate above the water it may escape at the lower end of the lamp or far away froln the burner.

N is the nozzle or opening into the chamber b for pouring in the water, the same being closed by a cap or plug N.

llaving now described the construction of the various parts or devices which are combined together to produce my new lamp, I will now describe the principle and mode of operation of my invention.

As the equaliziiig-chamber Il? is comparatively small in size, and as the water enters it from the water-chamber L through a small tube or pipe K, and as this equalizing-chamber in the normal operation of the lamp is maintained constantly full of water, owing to the pressure of the water in the chamber Zi above it, the tilting, jostl ing, jarring, and vibratory movements to which the lamp is subjected in use will not tend to produce any splashing effect in this small equalizingchamber r, and, moreover, no splashing effeet can reach the carbid through the small feed-tube lll', which might injuriously affect the operation of. the lamp or its steady and uniform burning, and as the water feed or supply pipe Vll is a small tube and rising vertieally from the equalizing-chamber U" tothe tubular hub or opening d, and as the pressure of the gas in thegas-holder l) and burnertube C' acts directly through the equalizingtube E against the small column of water rising in the water-feed tube lt, it will be seen that the feed of the water to the carbid is automatically regulated and very delicately governed or controlled, because there is only a very small volume of water in the feed-tube E near the carbid, and the instant the pressure of the rises above the normal or proper amount the pressure of the gas from the equalizing-tube IC will `force the water down the feed-tube lt and away from thc carbid, and the instant the gas-pressure, on the other hand, falls below its normal or proper degree the wat-er rises iu the feed-tube E and again comes in contact with the carbid, thus .restoring the pressure. 'lhis very delicate and sensitive regulation or self-adjustment of the generation of the also affords a perfect safeguard against danger of explosion and renders the lamp safe as well as economical. As in my lamp the cartridgeholder occupies a horizontal position, and as the water is fed into it horizontally or at one end, and as the gas generated passes horizontally through the carbid in the cartridge, it thus prevents the deposit or accumulation of spent or acted-upon carbid from interfering with the proper passage of the water into the carbid or of the gas generated out of or from the cartridge, and whatever irregularity of action might otherwise arise from the aecumulation of the deposit of spent carbid in the cartridge is fully compensated for by the delicate automatic regulation of the water-feed to the carbid before explained, and as in my in vention the cartridge-holder F is firmly screwed into the shell D the water being fed into the cartridge at the end is prevented from entering the gas-chamber or accumulating in the space between the cartridge-holder F and shell D, and as in my invention the gas-holder shell D is provided with a movable cap projecting outside the body of the lamp the cartridge-shell and its contents may be very readily removed from the lamp without disconnecting the head or other parts therefrom.

\Vhile my improved lamp is specially designed for use as a bicycle-lamp, it may also be used for other purposes.

I elaiml. In an acetylene-gas bicycle-lamp, the combination with a lamp-body or vessel having a small closed equalizing-chamber at its lower end and a water-chamber above said equalizing-chamber, anda connecting tube or passage between said chambers, of a horizontal cartridge-holder open at both ends pro- IOO vided with a cartridge, a gas-holder shell in said water chamber and surrounding said cartridge-holder, and a water feed or supply pipe or tube leading from said equalizingchamber and communicating with the cartridge at one end thereof through an opening in the head or end of said gas-holder or shell, substantially as specified.

2. In an acetylene-gas bicycle-lamp, the combination with a lamp-body or vessel having asmall closed equalizing-chamber atits lower end and a water-chamber above said equalizing-chamber, and a connecting tube or passage between said chambers, of a horizontal cartridge-holder open at both ends provided with a cartridge, a gas-holder shellin said water-chamber and surrounding said cartridge-holder, a water feed or supply pipe or tube leading from said equalizing-chamber and communicating with the cartridge at one end thereof through an opening in the head or end of said gas-holder or shell, and an equalizin g pipe or tube communicating at one end with the gas-supply and at the other end with the water feed or supply pipe, substantially as specified.

3. In an acetylene-lampg-the combination with the burner and gas-burner tube, of a horizontal cylindrical gas-holder or shell having a removable cap, a horizontal cartridgeholder in said shell, a water-feed tube or passage at oneend of said shell, a lamp-body orvessel having a water-chamber, and an equalizing-chamber below communicating with the water-chamber and with said water-feed tube or passage, and an equalizing-pipe communicating with the gas-supply and with said water-feed passage at or near its entrance to the cartridge, substantially as specified.

4. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the lamp-body or vessel having a waterchamber and an equalizing-chamber below, a small water-passage connecting said equalizing-chamber and Water-chamber, a generator-chamber located above the equalizingchamber and having a carbid-holder, and a` small Water-feed tube or pipe leading upwardly from said equalizing chamber and commuuicatin g with said generator-chamber above its bottom, substantially as specified.

5. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with a gas-holder shell, of a cartridge-holder shell screw-threaded thereto, a cartridge having a telescopic section, anda follower-disk, substantially as specified.

G. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the lamp-body or vessel, of a gas-holder shell projecting horizontally into the lampbody and having an open outer end, a removable screw-threaded cap closing the outer end of said shell, a cartridge-holder shell fitting inside said gas-holder shell, and a cartridge having a telescopic section, and a followerdisk provided with a spring friction-ring litting inside said cartridge-holder shell, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with the `burner and generator of an acetylene-lamp, of a horizontal passage opening into the generator and serving as a means of admitting Water to the carbid, and a gas passage admitting gas to said water-feed passage at its junction with the generator, whereby the gas is enabled when its pressure becomes preponderatin g to force all the water away from the carbid, su bstantially as specified.

8. In an acetylene-lamp,a generating-chamber havin g an opening above its bottom Whereby water may be fed to the side of the carbid, an equalizing-chamber communicating with fthe water-supply of the lamp and located in a plane lower than the plane ofV said wateropening in the generating chamber, an upward passage for the water connecting the equalizing chamber to said water opening, and a passage or duct conducting the gas to said connecting-passage in immediate proX- imity to said opening into the generatingchamber, whereby all the Water in said connecting-passage is quickly forced back from the carbid when the pressure becomes excessive, substantially as specified.

9. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the generating-chamber containing the carbid, of an equalizing-chamber connected to a source of water-supply, an upward Waterfeed passage from the equalizing-chamber to the generatingchamber, and a second passage connected to the gas-holding parts of the lamp and communicating with said water-passagel at its junction with the generating-chamber, whereby the gas is enabled to quickly force the water away from the carbid, substantially as specified.

l0. In an acetylene-gas-generating lamp, the combination with the carbid-holding shell or chamber, having an opening in its end for the admission of Water to the carbid, and the equalizing-chamber below the generatingchamber, of the tube E E open to the gas at its upper end and to the water in the equalizing chamber at its lower end, and -haviug an opening in its side wall whereby it communicates with the carbid -holding shell or chamber, substantially as speciiied.

ll. In an acetylene -gasgenerating lamp, the combination with the carbid-holding shell or chamber having an opening in its'end for the admission of water to the carbid, and the equalizing-chamber below the generatingchamber, of the tube E E open to the gas at its upper end and to the water in theV equalizingchamber at its lower end, and having an opening in its side Wall whereby it communicates with the carbid-holding shell or chamber, said tube being provided with a valve located between said side opening and the equalizing chamber, substantially as specified.

12. The combination in a generating gaslamp with the gas-feed passage leading to the burner, the carbid-holding chamber or shell,

IOO

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Walter-supply and the carbid, substantially as speciied.

l-lv. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with lthe generator and the burner, of ashort horizontal passage or chamber opening into the generator through the side Wall of the latter, said passage reeeivin g water through an opening in its bottom, and also receiving gas under pressure through an opening in its top, substantially as speeiied.

FREDERICK \V. IUCDG'ICLAND.

Vi tnesses:

II. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND Anoomf. 

